Katya Koganova is not a stranger to area code changes.

In her hometown of Troy, the area code has changed three times since 1993, and another code will be added soon.

“It is the way it is going to be, we just have to get used to it,” the marketing and Spanish sophomore said.

The growing popularity of cell phones, pagers, faxes and modems has resulted in an increased demand for phone numbers, causing the The Michigan Public Service Commission to create more area codes, said Mary Jo Kunkle, spokeswoman for commission.

The commission plans to add three new Michigan area codes to metro Detroit and Northeastern Lower Peninsula in the coming years.

The 517 area code also was split earlier this month, creating a new 989 area code in Northeastern lower Michigan. The new area code will be required on Oct. 6.

“There is a clear geographical boundary that could be split and it is much larger area,” Kunkle said.

Most of Macomb County will be designated with a new 586 area code, while most of Oakland County will have both the 248 and 947 area codes.

The commission decided to use an overlay plan, having two area codes in the same area, Oakland County, because the area code has already been changed so frequently. A similar plan has been used in cities like Boston.

Lansing-area residents will not have their numbers affected, but more numbers will be available, in response to a growing number of cellular phone users.

Koganova said she could not live without her cellular phone.

“It is very useful, it has become a need,” she said. “I have a long distance plan where I can call my brother cheaper than on a normal phone. He lives in Kansas.”

Kunkle said the commission attempted to avoid drawing new lines through neighborhoods, but that may not be possible in Oakland Country.

“Typically, the telephone company would maintain area code in individual residents or businesses,” Kunkle said. “But within neighborhood you could have different area codes, especially with in developing subdivisions.”

Kunkle said in all cases where area codes change, the rates will not be affected. In addition to adding new codes, the commission will attempt reclaim numbers held by phone companies.

Phone numbers are issued in blocks of 10,000.

Michelle Gilbert, Michigan spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, said the company does not apply for an additional block of numbers until it has fulfilled 70 percent of the previous block.

“We recognize the challenges and we are very careful,” she said. “We don’t want to see businesses have to change their letterheads and directories.”

Gilbert said the state’s number of cellular phone users continues to rise as people use them for business, pleasure and safety.

“It allows them to turn down time into productive time,” she said. “They are not just for the rich and business people, they are used by the soccer moms and college students.”

Koganova agrees.

“I see a lot more cell phones around campus,” she said. “I use mine in between classes if I need someone to pick me up or check a message at home.”